Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 apply.admittedly.co The Common Application is more than a collection of forms and essays; it's a strategic opportunity to tell a cohesive story about who you are and why you belong at your target colleges. In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel introduces the Admitt...

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel sits down with Charles Loxton, Chief Communications Officer at Advantage Testing and an experienced application consultant, to explore one of the most misunderstood parts of the admissions process: the college essay. Drawing on decades of experience helping students develop their personal narratives, Charles explains why essays matter, how s...

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉  https://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions-organic/ In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks directly to rising seniors and their families about one of the most important periods in the college admissions process: the summer before senior year. After years of ha...

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 https://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/ College application essays are one of the biggest opportunities students have to differentiate themselves in competitive admissions. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down what admissions officers are actually lo...

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/ In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel answers a question we see a lot in our comments: "Why should families trust undergraduate admissions advice from a former Director of MBA Admissions at Wharton?". He shares the story behind his...

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 h ttps://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=&utm_contentid= In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down one of the most misunderstood trends in modern college admissions: passion projects. From studen...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 apply.admittedly.co In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down why it feels like leadership titles are losing value in modern, holistic college admissions and what admissions officers are actually looking for when it comes to extracurricular involvement. For years, st...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of college admissions: extracurricular activities. Families often believe there is a "perfect list" of activities that guarantees admission to selective colleges. In realit...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks with Mike McLeod, founder of GrowNOW ADHD, about the real factor that determines whether students thrive in college: executive functioning skills. Strong grades and test scores can help students gain admission, bu...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel tackles a question many students quietly worry about: What if I didn't take high school seriously early on and now I'm behind? Whether it's limited access to AP or honors courses, a lighter course load freshman and sopho...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply . In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast , Thomas shares real stories from students he has worked with who reached their dream schools... sometimes in ways that surprised even them. These stories include a student who pivoted away from STEM pressure to pursue a passion for l...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast , Thomas sits down with Admittedly's Interim Director of College Counseling and former Senior Admissions Officer at Duke University, Sonam, for a candid look inside how highly selective admissions offices actually evaluate applications...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel steps away from tactical admissions advice to share the story behind Admittedly — how it started, why it exists, and where it's headed next. With nearly two decades inside selective admissions, including leading MBA Admi...

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel sits down with Kathy Yellen, Senior Program Consultant at Advantage Testing, to pull back the curtain on what most families misunderstand about tutoring and test prep. With 16 years at Advantage Testing and a background spanning early childhood education, classroom teaching, and performance, Kathy explains what her role actually looks like:...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, apply for a free Family Action Call with us at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel explores one of the most powerful but overlooked advantages in college admissions: planning ahead. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in highly selective admissions, he explains why the most successf...

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, apply for a free Family Action Call with us at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel takes on one of the most misunderstood parts of college preparation: extracurricular activities. Parents often worry their students aren't doing enough, while students feel overwhelmed trying to "keep up" with f...

If you're ready to take the next step in your admissions journey, visit https://admittedly.co/apply to register for a free Family Action Call with one of our advisors.  Parents worry about grades, test scores, and résumés. But underneath all of that, what really shapes a student who can thrive in competitive academics and in life?  In this episode, Thomas Caleel talks with Mario Mendez, Community...

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down why junior year is the most consequential year in the college admissions process. As students are assigned college counselors and admissions timelines become real, he explains what juniors should be focused on right now — and where families often misunderstand how the process actually works. This conversation covers academic rigo...

Happy New Year, listeners!  In this Season 5 premiere of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel kicks off the new year by addressing one of the most important questions students and families face: how to take control of the college admissions process instead of leaving outcomes to chance. Drawing on decades of experience in highly selective admissions, Thomas reflects on the lessons of the pas...

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel walks sophomores and their families through a critical midyear check-in. With first semester complete and winter break underway, this is the moment to take an honest look at academics, extracurriculars, and overall direction before junior year raises the stakes. Thomas explains why sophomore year often feels harder than expected, how sm...

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks with Michelle Chasin, Associate Director of Advantage Testing New York and senior tutor with more than 30 years of experience working with high school students. Michelle specializes in tutor development, long-term academic mentorship, and supporting students through test preparation, foundational skill-building, and the emotional chal...

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel breaks down what freshmen (and their parents) should be thinking about as they wrap up their first semester of high school. From academic foundations to extracurricular exploration to strategic planning for summer, Thomas explains why the habits students build now will shape their options in junior and senior year — especially if they'r...

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel breaks down one of the most confusing (and often misleading) parts of the college admissions landscape: how to evaluate a college consultant. With firms advertising guaranteed results, inflated acceptance lists, and "proprietary systems," Thomas explains what families should actually be looking for when choosing an advisor for their hig...

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel explains why freshmen, sophomores, and juniors should begin planning their summer programs and activities long before spring. Drawing on decades of experience in college admissions, he breaks down what actually matters, what doesn't, and why early planning is one of the most overlooked competitive advantages in high school. Rather than...

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel reveals the hidden half of the college admissions process, the part most families never think about. Students spend years stacking achievements and building resumes, but the truth is that admissions officers care less about what you have done and far more about why you have done it. Drawing from two decades of experience, including his...